Obituaries are a service of Brainard Funeral Home, with locations in Wausau and Weston.
Lloyd “Christy” Scheel
Lloyd “Christy” Scheel, 91, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, at Mount View Care Center with his family by his side.
He was born on March 14, 1928, in Schofield, Wisconsin. He was the son of Henry and Evelyn (Ferge) Scheel. He married Doris Meilahn on June 29, 1984.
Christy was a U.S. Army veteran serving in Korea from 1951 to 1953. After honorably serving his country, Christy came home and started a career in law enforcement. First serving with the Schofield Police Department from 1955 to 1962, he was then selected as the first chief of police to Weston’s brand-new police department, serving the community from 1962 until his retirement in 1985. Outside of being a devoted husband and father, Christy enjoyed woodworking, antique engines and gardening. Christy was a life-long member of Peace United Church of Christ, serving on their Council. He was involved in numerous local and state organizations, such as Masonic Forest Lodge #130, Life Member of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, Royal Arch Mason Chapter 51, Past Commander Burns Post 388 Wausau, Life member of Past Commanders Club VFW State of Wisconsin, along with many others.
Christy is survived by his wife, Doris; his children, Monty (Renee) Scheel, Karen (Duane) Adamski, Steven (Christine) Meilahn, and Sarah Meilahn; grandchildren, Clint, Chloe, Annie, Derek (Jamie), and Calli; great-grandchildren, Eva, Owen and Anya. He is further survived by his sisters Audrey Marquardt and Iris (Bill) Meyer. Besides his parents, Christy was preceded in death by his siblings; Henry Jr. Scheel, Gerald Scheel and Lois Reetz.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Peace United Church of Christ, 1530 Grand Ave., Schofield. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, at Brainard Funeral Home, Everest Chapel, 5712 Memorial Court, Weston, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Thursday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Burial will take place at Pine Grove Cemetery, Wausau. Online condolences can be directed to the family at brainardfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Christy’s name can be directed to Peace United Church of Christ.
Russell Stahnke
Russell L. Stahnke, 92, of Wausau passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, while at his home surrounded by family.
He was born to the late Walter and Alice (Goelz) Stahnke in Milwaukee on Aug. 9, 1927. Russ joined the United States Army and served his country honorably during World War II from October 1945-December 1946. He completed his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Marquette University, working as a CPA with Reilly, Penner and Benton in Milwaukee and retired from Lakeside Plywood in Wausau after joining the company as co-owner and comptroller in 1971. He married Dawn Montgomery on Oct. 25, 1952. She preceded him in death on April 3, 1991. He later met Judith Nelson and they were married on April 16, 1994.
Russ had been a long-time and active member of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was also very active with Judy’s family at Wesley United Methodist Church. He had been a member and vice-president of the Golden Kiwanis Club. In May 2011, Russ was proud to join his fellow veterans on the Never Forgotten Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. An avid sports fan, his favorite teams were the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badgers. He enjoyed traveling to Florida in the winter months, bowling and playing softball in his younger days and ping pong in later years. Russ will be remembered most for his kind and gentle soul and the love he had for his friends and family.
Russ is survived by his second wife, Judy Nelson; children, Laura Stahnke, Linda Emens, and Leslie (Dave) Kallsen; stepchildren, Brian (Nancy) Nelson and Kristin (Tim) Nelson; grandchildren, Denise (Drew) Rodiles, Kevin Bloczynski, and Erin and Christine Kallsen; step-grandchildren, Tyler and Jensen Jauernig and Terry Dombrowski; step-greatgrandchildren, Cayde Koski and Finnegan Dombrowski; sisters, Mardell Williams and Karen (Gordon) Tuffli; as well as his sister-in-law, May Liersch.
In addition to his parents, Russ was preceded in death by his first wife, Dawn, and brothers-in-law Mark Williams and Ron Liersch.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1351 Grand Ave., Schofield. Pastor Walter Davidson will officiate. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Burial will take place at Restlawn Memorial Park. Family and friends may go to helke.com to sign the family guestbook.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight, 4404 Rib Mountain Drive, #234, Wausau, WI 54401.
Keith White
Keith Eugene White of Birnamwood, died Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, under the compassionate care of the staff of Cloverleaf Terrace Assisted Living (formerly Bohlman Manor) and LeRoyer Hospice. He had been a resident of Cloverleaf Terrace since July 9, 2010, having made the decision to move there with his wife, Millie. Keith remained there after her passing in 2013.
He was born on April 30, 1929, in Widen, West Virginia, to Gladys (Barnett) and Ben White and was the second oldest of a family of ten.
Keith served in the Korean War from April 21, 1951, until his honorable discharge on March 19, 1953. He married Mildred (Matz, Looney, Jessie) in Indianapolis, Indiana, and later moved to Antigo, Wausau and Birnamwood, Wisconsin.
Keith was a salesman for the Jewel Tea Co. for many years and retired as office manager at Baker Canning Co. of Antigo.
Keith is survived by his siblings, Kenneth White of Indiana, Winston White of Tennessee, and Betty Bruton and Carol Cossell of Indiana. He is further survived by his brother-in-law, Edward Matz of Birnamwood and sisters-in-law, Lois Liethen of Wittenberg and Shirley Clark of Birnamwood. Keith was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Millie White; brothers, Ben White of Michigan and Dorsel White of Texas, and sisters, Erma Woody of West Virginia, Pauline Garey and Viola Priddy both of Indiana. He was also preceded in death by brothers-in-law Warren Crawford, Melvin Matz, Eldo Frederick, William Liethen, Jr., and Robert Clark; sisters-in-law Eudora Crawford, Mildred Matz, Irene Matz, Marion Matz and Evelyn Frederick, and nephews Lee Eysturlid, Kevin and Kenneth Frederick, and great-nephew Nels Jacobson.
Because Keith came from a large family that is scattered throughout the United States, some of his family details were not available.
Keith and Millie did not have children of their own and instead accepted and loved the vast amount of nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews of both of their families, and attended as many of their baptisms, confirmations, graduations, weddings, sports, music and other events as they possibly could.
A Christian funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Birnamwood. Rev. Matthew Christians will officiate. Burial will take place in Forest Cemetery, Birnamwood, with military rites conducted by the Darling Gunderson American Legion. Visitation will be held on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Birnamwood, is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories and messages of support may be shared at schmidtschulta.com.
Laurel Schumacher
Laurel L. Schumacher, 75, of Eland died unexpectedly on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, at her home. She was born on Feb. 24, 1944, in Wausau, the daughter of the late Earl and Oral (Nedel) Panko.
On June 15,1968, Laurel was united in marriage to James Schumacher at St. Philomena Catholic Church, Birnamwood. He survives.
Laurel was a Title 1 Reading teacher for several rural schools and worked for the Antigo School District until her retirement. She was also a long-term substitute teacher for the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District. Laurel enjoyed embroidery, reading and watching British T.V. shows. She loved shopping, especially at Goodwill. Laurel enjoyed relaxing on her deck while watching and feeding the birds. She loved spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews.
Laurel is survived by her husband, James Schumacher of Eland; two sons, Jeffrey Schumacher of Eland and Joseph Schumacher of Eugene, Oregon; siblings, Patricia (Ken) Beck of Idaho, Earl Panko Jr. of Eland, Shirley (Larry) Muska of Fort Atkinson and Dwight Panko of Eland and nieces and nephews, Aaron Panko, Tamara Ament, Sherry Pfeifer, Elkim Beck and Jennifer Beck.
Laurel was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Dennis and Arlen.
A celebration of life will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg.
Schmidt and Schulta Funeral Home, Wittenberg, will be assisting the family with arrangements. Memories and messages of support may be shared at SchmidtSchulta.com.
